Photo Gallery

WHITE PASS, Wash. — State transportation officials have closed a 45-mile stretch of U.S. Route 12 in south central Washington after heavy rains washed out a portion of the road west of White Pass.

Spokeswoman Summer Derrey says crews are waiting for safe conditions Wednesday before going in to assess the damage and determine how to make repairs. She says the stretch — east of Packwood and just west of Naches — is closed indefinitely.

Officials said there was mud and debris across the road in multiple locations.

Engineers were called to the scene to assess the hillside. There was no word on when the highway could reopen.